I was curious about the shallow indentation molded into the aft edge of the periscope housing.



Well, I got lucky. While searching the Internet I came across a site called BookReader (bookre.org). It has the book, "Vom Original zum Modell" for the type XXIII that you can read on-line. On page 21 of the book there is a photo that shows that the indented area should be an opening. So I opened it up.



I also added two attachment points for the deck life-line, one on the tower and one on the forward hull.





Bronco would have you tie the line to one of the ladder rungs on the tower and the instructions aren't too clear about what you're supposed to attach the other end to. Al

Very nice details Al!
But here we have the old problem: all boats differ in details. The boat on page 21 has a different aft edge of the periscop housing - no bulge!
on page 81 you can find a drawing showing pour boats housing - with bulge. And in the topview we can find only a little oval hole at the lower end of that bulge.
Today I received the ordered lug pattern plate to build the step on top of the UZO-plate:

in place

But now I found my own mistake: the shape of the voice tubes end wasn't o.k.
So it has ti be corrected - nearly similar to the tube on the Dönitz pic, at least better than the old one!




Michael

Very nice details Al!
But here we have the old problem: all boats differ in details [Quoted text]

Thanks Michael, and you're right, it's rare that you can find complete documentation on any one boat, or ship, or plane, or any subject for that matter. Unless what you're building was famous, and well photographed from all angles, it goes back to taking an educated guess and hoping for the best. Al

P.S.Where did you get the plastic with the tread pattern on it?

http://www.hobby-lobby-modellbau.com/onlineshop/product_info.php/language/en/info/p3779_Tr-nen-Platte-100-x-60-mm---1er-Tr-ne-1-2-mm----3761-01.htmll

...a very good value for money! 1.20€ = 1,58 USD


Michael

Thanks Michael, I'll have to pick up a couple of sheets. I'm sure you noticed that Bronco's periscope is all wrong. The upper section is too thick and the lens assembly looks like a TV set! I started correcting it by cutting off the upper section at the pencil line.



I added a narrow section of styrene tube reinforced with a piece of brass rod.



Then I chucked it in an electric drill and shaped it with sandpaper.



The finished tube with the original above it. You can plainly see the difference in the thickness. Tomorrow, on to the lens assembly. Al

I fashioned a new more correct lens assembly for the periscope. Starting with a piece of sprue about four inches long,I then tapered one end with a file until it matched the diameter of the periscope tube. Then I filed a notch in the sprue just above the tapered end. For the lens, I cut a piece of plastic strip, rounded the ends and glued it into the notch. Then I carefully hollowed it out. After painting, I'll place a drop of epoxy in it to simulate the glass. After this was complete I cut my lens assembly off of the sprue, which had served as a handle during the previous steps. Here is the corrected assembly next to the original.





And attached to the 'scope tube.



The periscope temporarily fitted in place.



The whole thing was a lot easier than I feared and certainly was worth the effort. Al

Great stuff Al & Michael,

The detail being worked into the conning tower is really bringing this to life.

Si

Thanks Simon, Feel free to dive right in and join us. Al

Hi Al and Michael,

Excellent work, following along.

Al

Thanks Alan!
...and here's my new wolfs eye:


silver = steel
grey = Bronco
white = scratch




Michael

The Scratchbuilt Details really add something to the Boat. Fantastic work.....Cheers mark

Man at work on this dock - on sundays too.
"drain cover" installed:





Labor on sunday - I'm an employee with rights! Time for a coffee...


Michael

Some detail added tho the Snorkel.





Here's the Snorkel temporarily placed into position.



I cut down the two tubes extending down from the Snorkel's head so that it wouldn't extend as high from the tower. The PE Naxos antenna still needs to be added to the post on top. Once again Bronco missed the boat on some very visible detail, surprising since their Seehund kit has some very nice detail that is hidden inside the tower and not visible at all. Al

This is my solution of the periscope housing - according to the Rössler drawing "Abschlussausführung".

before:


and after drilling:


Nice Schnorchel Al, but what's that brass pole between the tubes? I can't find that on drawings or pics! And what about the missing mesh wire on the snotkels head?


Michael

Congratulations!!!

Friends are doing an excellent work!!!!! I love it!!!

Regards Daniel

Nice Schnorchel Al, but what's that brass pole between the tubes? I can't find that on drawings or pics! And what about the missing mesh wire on the snotkels head? [Quoted text]

Thanks Michael, On page 85 of Vom Original Zum Modell, there is a drawing of the Snorkel head that shows the rod in question.



You can see it runs from under the top down through the curved joint and out the bottom and if you look at the drawing of the Snorkel in Plan 9 on page 81 you'll see it extends down from there.



As for the wire mesh, I didn't forget it, I hadn't gotten around to it yet. Al

Hello Daniel, Thanks for the kind words, high praise coming from someone with your skills. Al

Sorry Al, found that little hole in the periscope housing, but lost sight of the pole between the tubes


Michael

Michael, I can't begin to count the times that I found out about some missing detail AFTER the build was finished. If it wasn't for your help at beginning of this build I wouldn't have gotten as far as I have. I was just lucky to find access to that book and those plans online when I did. Al
P.S. I based my 'hole' on the photo at the bottom of page 21.

Corrected Al
3 parts: 2 different styrene parts and a 0.6mm brass nut.


and with a white background for a better visibility:




Michael

Hi Al,

Excellent progress, nice work on the snorkel and the associated fittings, the additional detail is impressive.

I've only built a couple of Bronco kits in the form of the 17 and 25 pdr and the detail is impressive. I guess Bronco haven't yet transferred that level of detail to their watery things.

Great build blog, I am tempted by this one as the fixes look manageable.

Cheers

Alan

Hello Alan, Maybe the High Grand Poobah at Bronco only allots X number of pounds of plastic per kit, and this one went a wee bit over, so they had to cut some corners. The fixes are certainly manageable and truth be told, quite a lot of fun. Al

Hello Al,
what about the hatch cover? Sure, that there is no problem in the opened position because of the added lockers? A german comrade is going to alter the hinge...
With my beast everthing goes well - a close run:




Michael

Looks like German over-engineering strikes again
cheers,
Julian

Looking good, Michael. I've been doing battle with the mesh screen for the Snorkel.



Still a little more to do to finish it. Al